“Have you seen Molly?”

An innocent enough question, if you are not up to date on who, or rather what, Molly is.

Molly, short for “molecule,” is the code name for the drug MDMA, the main ingredient in Ecstasy, which was popular throughout the 1990s. The difference is that Ecstasy usually comes in pill form and is commonly mixed with other drugs. Molly is pure MDMA and usually comes in a powder or capsule.

As the drug seemingly gains popularity, there are those who say it's no coincidence that many of today's biggest artists are dropping references about the drug in their biggest hitS. Miley Cyrus sung about Molly’s attributes on her latest album and raved about it to Rolling Stone. Others such as Madonna, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West have also sung the drug’s praises.

The Drug Enforcement Agency notes that “Molly” can cause confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep problems and drug craving. Other health risks of “Molly” can include anything from involuntary teeth clenching, sudden loss of appetite, a loss of inhibitions, transfixion on sights and sounds, nausea, signs of depression and/or sadness, not being able to get out of bed for extended periods, blurred vision and chills and/or sweating, and even increased heart rate and blood pressure and seizures.

The DEA labels it a Schedule 1 controlled substance, considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted use in medical treatment, which means it's illegal.

Drug abuse is a serious public health problem that affects almost every community and family in some way. It’s our job as parents to stay vigilant on the newest trends in pop culture so our kids are not falling victim to the “next best thing” being toted out there.